ROK ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF APPOINTED AS MINISTER OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 003768

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/31/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR KS KN
SUBJECT: ROK ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF APPOINTED AS MINISTER OF
NATIONAL DEFENSE

Classified By: POL/MC JOSEPH Y. YUN. REASONS: 1.4 (b/d).


1. (C) On November 1, 2006 the Blue House announced the
nomination of ROK Army (ROKA) Chief of Staff General Kim
Jang-soo as South Korea's next Minister of National Defense.
General Kim is a widely respected infantry soldier who rose
smartly through the ranks and was the first in his academy
class to be promoted to general. He went on to become ROKA
Chief of Staff in April 2005. Prior to that assignment, he
was Deputy Commander of the U.S.-ROK Combined Forces Command
(CFC) for nearly a year when his predecessor was discharged
after being convicted of embezzlement of Army funds. General
Kim received his fourth star in May 2004. Of the four
cabinet-level appointments made today, General Kim's is the
least controversial.

Advocate of Transformation
--------------


2. (C) General Kim is a highly-regarded leader who can be
expected to guide the increasingly able ROK military on its
continuing path toward modernization. Currently, he is
leading a transformation of the ROK Army that will result in
a significantly reduced, but better trained and equipped
land-based force under the ROK Defense Reform Plan 2020.
Prior to his stint at CFC, he was Director of Operations
(J-3) for the ROK JCS, where he was heavily involved in the
decision to send the South Korean "Zaytun" Detachment to
Iraq. He last traveled to the United States for an official
counterpart visit in January 2006, the primary purpose of
which was to learn more about the U.S. Army's transformation
plan. During that visit, General Kim reportedly strived to
understand the practical benefits of transformation, so as to
apply them to the ROK Army.


Approval Expected
--------------


3. (C) General Kim's nomination is likely to be approved by
the National Assembly without difficulty. First, because the
appointment of a career military man will be widely applauded
within the halls of MND. Second, because he is considered
more a professional than political choice, the opposition is
likely to target more controversial figures appointed today
to other important positions on the President's national
security team (reported septels). Kim's origins do, however,
send a political message. He was born in the Jeolla region
in the South, an area that has historically suffered from a
long-standing bias within the ROK government and military.
Kim was the third successive Jeolla native to serve as Deputy
Commander of CFC. His appointment as Minister of National
Defense sends another clear message about President Roh's
attempt to reform the South Korean military by removing
regional prejudices, not to mention his own courting of
Jeolla votes for the ruling party.


4. (C) Kim's selection will necessarily lead to other
personnel moves within the ROK military and MND. The most
notable person likely to be affected is Assistant Minister
Kwon An-do. Kwon is in the same class as General Kim and
could therefore be expected to tender his resignation (NOTE:
Within the hierarchical culture of Korean society, it is
considered inappropriate to serve under someone unless they
are senior to you in age and rank). Because he plays a
particularly valuable role as MND's point man on the
important issue of U.S.-ROK Alliance Transformation, Kwon
could be asked to remain in his position awhile longer.
Asked to comment on that, MND America Policy Division
Director (Colonel) Chun In-bum said he expects Kwon will
remain in place "for at least another month." Other moves
within the ROK Army will be necessary as Kim must be replaced
as service chief. Furthermore, the ROK General Officer
promotion list will be published on November 3rd, resulting
in a further shuffling of general officers over the next six
months (to be reported septel).


BIOGRAPHY
--------------



5. (C) Career Bio of General Kim Jang-soo.

1971 Korean Military Academy, Class 27
1982-84 Battalion Commander, 9th Division
1984-88 Ground Operations Officer, J3, JCS
1988-89 Chief of Staff, 11th Division
1989-91 Commander, 5th Regiment, 7th Division
1991-93 Chief, Plans Division, First ROK Army (FROKA)
1994-95 Chief, Operations Division, Capital Defense Command
1994 Promoted to Brigadier General
1995-96 Commandant, KMA Cadet Corps
1996-97 Chief, Operations Division, FROKA
1997 Promoted to Major General
1997-99 Commanding General, 6th Infantry Division
1999-01 Director of Operational Planning, J-3, JCS
2001 Promoted to Lieutenant General
2001-03 Commanding General, 7th Corps
2003-04 Director of Operations, J-3, JCS
2004 Promoted to General
2004-05 Deputy Commander, ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command.
2005- Chief of Staff, Army

High Order Decorations:

Order of National Security Merit (Gukson Medal) 1996
Order of National Security Merit (Chonsu Medal) 2002

Personal Data:

KIM Jang-soo was born in 1948 in Kwangju, Jeolla province. He
is married to Pak Hyo-suk. They have one son and one
daughter. He is the only South Korean four-star general from
Jeolla and one of two four-star generals from Korean Military
Academy (KMA),Class 27. He has a Master of Arts degree from
the Graduate School of Public Administration at Yonsei
University, and his military education includes attendance at
the Korean National Defense University in 1989. General Kim
has also attended the German Military Academy. He speaks
only rudimentary English. According to DAO reporting, Kim is
said to be proud and unselfish, and is well respected and
liked his officers. He is an outstanding officer with a
strong personality and good sense of humor. General Kim is
also an excellent golfer and enjoys playing often.
VERSHBOW